Itinerary – Inside Paris
Our Inside Paris trip is a shorter version of The Paris Experience: a four night Paris tour vs. seven nights. Many of the same experiences are included, but the longer trip includes two quite different days, including a day trip out of Paris. There’s also some free time and meals on your own in The Paris Experience, which provides additional flexibility.
We may also adjust our plans based on weather, the interests of the group members, and unexpected opportunities. If there’s a special event during your trip, we’ll likely rearrange things to be there.
We’ll describe a “typical” schedule for Inside Paris, but no trip is ever quite the same! Your trip might be organized differently, and experiences may be added or not included. We may also adjust our plans based on weather, the interests of the group members, and unexpected opportunities. And of course, there are a few surprises that we’ll wait to share with you when we’re together in the City of Light.
Day One
Our group will meet in the late afternoon at our boutique hotel in the Latin Quarter, near the charming Place Monge.
After introductions, we’ll head out together for an exciting first night on the town.
Tonight we’ll use the metros like locals and make our way to the Right Bank. An unforgettable icebreaker has our group seeing the City of Lights from a truly special perspective, including a nighttime joyride through some of Paris’ most picturesque neighborhoods. Be sure to bring your camera!
Afterward, this new group of friends will enjoy fromage, charcuterie, and an informal intro to French wines by the owner of a convivial French wine bar. Our Inside Paris experience is off to a great start!
Day Two
Our first full day in Paris combines gastronomy and history.
Learning about food in Paris
Our day starts with a visit to the Les Halles district. Fittingly, the area was once the site of Paris’ largest open-air food market, earning it the nickname the Ventre de Paris (The “Belly of Paris”). The old market hall, demolished in the early 1970s, may be long gone, but the area’s rich culinary history remains. Exploring the neighborhood with a charming and fun food history expert, we taste pastries at one of the patisseries that line the buzzing, vibrant side streets.
Once we’ve worked up an appetite, we then enjoy a lunch in a veritable, century-old Parisian institution. Guided by insights from our history of restaurants expert, our group appreciates the many details of its lively dining room, rich in historic splendor, and the menu filled with classic brasserie fare. You will be sure to enjoy this quintessential Paris experience.
In the afternoon, we’ll tour the Hôtel de la Marine, an 18th-century complex in the heart of Paris, and the Place de la Concorde. The mansion’s stately rooms will treat our group to the over-the-top opulence of the former French monarchy.
In the evening, we’ll enjoy a group dinner in a neighborhood restaurant near the hotel. If you’re feel inclined, you have the option to join Jennifer on an after-dinner visit to a nearby jazz club.
Day Three
Day three focuses on the Marais, a trendy district that seamlessly blends old world charm with a hip twenty-first-century cosmopolitanism. Anchored by the Place des Vosges, the Marais is among Paris’ oldest neighborhoods. It boasts the largest concentration of medieval structures in the entire city.
Lunch in the Marais
Our morning is spent at one of the Marais’ most spectacular destinations, the Musée Carnavalet. A former aristocratic mansion, this 16th-century estate has since been transformed into one of Paris’ premier museums. Richly detailed permanent exhibits educate visitors about the history of the French capital, which stretches over two millennia, while a well-manicured courtyard offers the opportunity for scenic repose.
A leisurely group lunch in one of the Marais’ charming squares gives us the opportunity to enjoy the neighborhood’s lively atmosphere from a different vantage point.
In the afternoon, we’ll enjoy a guided tour of the neighborhood, getting a taste of its dynamic mix of stately monuments and trendy boutiques.
This evening our group heads to a local’s apartment for a convivial, informal dinner party featuring numerous delicious surprises you won’t find back home.
Day Four
Our last full day in Paris starts with a visit to historic gardens built for the Queen Marie-Antoinette in the late 18th century. The garden assembles a dreamlike mix of waterfalls, pagodas, footbridges, and, of course, a splendid array of fauna and flora, including over 10,000 rose bushes.
An Inside Paris garden experience
Our visit to the gardens is enriched by a one-of-a-kind tour from a horticultural and gardening expert. After the tour, she’ll treat our group to a relaxed lunch at her apartment.
In the afternoon we’ll enjoy a scenic stroll through the Left Bank neighborhood of Saint-Germain-des-Près. A onetime bohemian enclave, the existentialists and artists of yesteryear have since given way to trendy boutiques and upscale shopping.
Our last night together we’ll gather for a celebratory apéritif at the hotel followed by a farewell dinner at a nearby restaurant.
Day Five
It’s been a very special four night Paris tour! We usually say our goodbyes after our farewell dinner, as everyone is headed in different directions today. Some travelers will joining another European Experiences trip in France. Others may begin their journey home or stay on in Paris for a few days… or perhaps continue their travels elsewhere in Europe. We’ll all take away special memories of new friends and our unique experiences in Paris.